Things certainly will shake out on the field between Colonial League foes Catasauqua, Palisades, Pen Argyl, Northwestern and Notre Dame-GP in the second half of the regular season.

Those five teams currently sit in spots 2 through 6 in the latest District 11 Class 2A ratings.

The problem is that No. 1 Pine Grove, on the western fringe of District 11 hasn’t played a team from the district in the first half of the season. The Cardinals, who only have one non-league game on their schedule, have built a 5-0 record against District 3 and 4 clubs.

That changes this Friday night when Pine Grove hosts Class A Williams Valley (5-0). The Cardinals, members of the Twin Valley Conference, have just one more game against a District 11 team — Week 9 at Class A Tri-Valley.

This is not to knock the Cardinals. They always play hard and are well coached. But their schedule makes it very hard to gauge whether they are worthy of a top seed in a four-team district playoff bracket when they haven’t competed against a District 11 Class 2A program all season.

It is only Week 5, the halfway point of the Colonial League regular season, Pen Argyl and Southern Lehigh can’t help but think about the postseason.

The Green Knights are the two-time defending District 11 Class 2A champions.

The Spartans have made the district’s 3A championship game two of the last three seasons.

They expect to be in contention again.

And, there is the regular-season title that has yet to be determined. Both teams are 3-1, tied with three others for second place — one game behind unbeaten defending champion Catasauqua.

“With them being 3A with the district points and we can control our destiny as far as the league championship goes, we can stay at one loss and still have to play that team on top,” Pen Argyl coach Paul Reduzzi said.

“We’ve played against the teams from our league for district points, but [Southern Lehigh] has to play those other teams yet — Palisades and Notre Dame.”

Southern Lehigh and Pen Argyl have played some highly intense, dramatic games in recent years, including a 28-20 Spartans win in 2012.

They are in the top half of the league in scoring defense, despite the Spartans giving up 62 points in a Week 2 loss to Catasauqua.

“We’ve given up only 13 points in three games minus the Catty game,” Southern Lehigh coach John Toman said. “They can score that many against anybody if they are focused.

“We’ve refocused after that game, gotten back to the fundamentals. We’ve done the little things right.”

Both teams are in the top half of the league in rushing offense. Both could be missing key parts. Southern Lehigh quarterback Travis Edmond (shoulder) and Pen Argyl running back Mike DePaolo (ankle) missed last week’s wins over Northwestern and Wilson, respectively.

Don’t expect either one to sit a second week, at least offensively.

Edmond is third in passing yards with 569 yards to go with seven touchdowns. He also is a solid runner.

DePaolo has run for 261 yards and four scores.

But neither team relies on one person offensively. They execute their systems with solid blocking up front and versatile athletes behind them.

“They are very similar to Pen Argyl teams in the past,” Toman said. “They had Dylan Evans and Mike Racciato together one year. Racciato and DePaolo last year.

“Ryan Hunt is a capable quarterback and [Nick] Oyer, too. It’s a two-headed monster. They want to try to muscle you, grind the clock. And they like the play action. They have a good tight end [Alex Bartleson] and like isolate Oyer one-on-one on the back side.

“If someone doesn’t do what they’re supposed to do, …”

Freshman Logan Ruppert rushed for 98 yards in his first varsity start last week against Wilson.

The Spartans also have a stable of running backs, led by speedy Trent Silfies and bruisers Zach Wilson and Christian Ricci, a solid tight end in Cody Heffelfinger and good receivers led by Jake Del Priore.

Southern Lehigh is first in passing offense and total offense, and second in scoring offense.

“[Neither team] needs one stud to be in the same place all the time,” Reduzzi said. “With their Delaware scheme, all three running backs have the chance to touch the ball equally.”

Since 2009, one thing has been crystal clear in Colonial League football: The North rules the South in its Civil War battles.

After the two divisions battled to a draw in the first year of the new divisional format, the North has won 72 of 90 meetings entering 2013.

But with just six meetings left this season, the South has a 13-11 advantage.

Can the South hold on?

I say it will, though there are several toss-up games this weekend in what should be the most competitive of the first half of this season.

Here are my predictions:

Catasauqua (4-0) at Saucon Valley (3-1): The Rough Riders haven’t really had a rough ride yet this season, especially offensively. I think it comes tonight when the Panthers put up a good fight. They have one of the league’s best running backs (Nick Savant, at left) and an aggressive, experienced defense. Catasauqua 27-14.

Southern Lehigh (3-1) at Pen Argyl (3-1): The Spartans and Green Knights have star player injuries to QB Travis Edmond and RB Mike DePaolo, respectively. I expect both to play, but not both ways and not at 100 percent. I think that favors host Pen Argyl on Saturday. But I still like Southern Lehigh. Southern Lehigh 21-14.

Palisades (3-1) at Palmerton (2-2): The Pirates do a few things and do them well. The Blue Bombers are still searching for an offensive identity and have health issues. The Pirate ship keeps moving toward a second playoff berth in a row. Palisades 27-12.

Northwestern (2-2) at Notre Dame-GP (3-1): The Tigers are clearly much better than a year ago. The Crusaders are good enough to be a District 11 Class 2A playoff team. This game will go a long way in determining both teams’ fates come November. Notre Dame-GP 26-21.

Salisbury (1-3) at Northern Lehigh (0-4): The Bulldogs have turnovers to thank for their 0-4 start. The Falcons have been pretty generous in that department, too. I believe coach Joe Tout’s club gets its first win of 2013 by being a little more stingy tonight. Northern Lehigh 28-22.

Bangor (0-4) at Wilson (0-4): In a battle of winless teams with youth, depth and injury issues, the Warriors defense has done pretty well considering how much time it has spent on the field. Without RB Phil Vass to deal with, Wilson’s job is a lot easier on Saturday afternoon. But it will have to score to win. Wilson 7-6.

With sophomore quarterback Devante Cross (left) leading its offense, Parkland has limited its passing
game through the season’s first month.

The Trojans would like to start expanding their air attack
soon.

“That’s something that we’re really working on,” Parkland
coach Jim Morgans said at practice
Wednesday. “We have a young quarterback. We’re trying to do things that he can
manage.

“We’re trying to get better at the things he does well. You
can’t overwhelm a young guy.”

Parkland’s passing game may get a boost tonight against
Whitehall. Junior Jarey Elder,
Parkland’s leading receiver last season, returned to practice this week after
missing 5 1/2 weeks with a broken bone in his leg.

Morgans said it would be a game-time decision whether Elder
would play tonight. Morgans also said he isn’t sure whether the Trojans will
keep Elder to one side of the ball or give him limited snaps on offense and
defense if he plays.

Parkland has passed for 322 yards this season, but 212 yards
came in its Week 1 win over Delaware Valley. The Trojans have not thrown for
more than 66 yards in a game since then.

Of course, Parkland hasn’t needed to put the ball in the air
the last two weeks. The Trojans piled up 614 rushing yards in back-to-back wins
over Northampton and Liberty.

* * * * * * * * * *

Nazareth has dropped two straight games since its 2-0 start,
losing one-sided games to Liberty and Whitehall. Blue Eagles coach Rob Melosky would like to see more
physical play from his roster, including at the wide receiver position.

“In our offense, they’re put on an island out on the
perimeter,” Melosky said. “They’ve got to be physical and make blocks.”

Melosky said the Nazareth offense has also lacked
consistency in the last two weeks, struggling at times in the ground game and
at others in the air game. This week’s opponent, Freedom, has played solid
defense for most of the year but has struggled to score.

Nazareth and Freedom both practiced this week uncertain of
which player they would start at quarterback. Nazareth has started Spencer King (left) all season but replaced
him in the second quarter last week with Justin
Albert.

Freedom has given sophomore quarterback Jonah Gundrum starts in all four of its games this season. That
could change tonight. Senior Brian Muzila
and freshman Joe Young both took
extra quarterback reps in practice this week.

Joe’s older brother, junior Jake Young, practiced at wide receiver this week. He has played
running back most of this season, but the Patriots are seeking a way to goose
an offense that has not scored more than two touchdowns in a game this season.

Like Nazareth, Freedom has lost two straight games.

“We’re talking about trying to be mentally tough here,”
Freedom coach Jason Roeder said. “Obviously
they have some athletes that can make plays.”

* * * * * * * * * *

Easton will welcome back offensive lineman Forrest Myers to its starting lineup
this week. He missed last week’s game against Central Catholic while serving a
suspension after getting ejected from a Week 3 win over Bethlehem Catholic.

Myers played left tackle before this season, but he will
return to the line at right tackle. Junior Michael
Fleming started the season at left tackle while Myers was recovering from
an injury that kept him out of the first two games. Fleming has played well at
that spot, so Easton coach Steve
Shiffert wants to leave him there.

A big focus for Shiffert this week was cautioning his
players not to look past Emmaus. The Green Hornets are 2-2, but both of their
losses came late in games. Emmaus almost beat Easton a year ago, losing 15-14
in double overtime.

“I’m impressed with their defense,” Shiffert said. “Their
defense is strong. The have good corners, and an outstanding linebacking corps.
It’s just a good, fundamental defense.”

Southern Lehigh proved it could win a game without quarterback/safety Travis Edmond.

Pen Argyl did the same without running back/linebacker Mike DePaolo.

Edmond and DePaolo missed last weekend wins with injuries.

Their status for Saturday afternoon’s showdown between the Spartans (3-1) and Green Knights (3-1) remains questionable, though it appears likely both standout players will give it a go in some capacity.

Edmond suffered a shoulder injury in a Week 3 win over Bangor. He did not dress for Southern Lehigh’s 13-7 home win last Friday over Northwestern.

“He’s day to day,” Southern Lehigh coach John Toman said Tuesday. “We’re holding off as long as we can about having him throw.”

If Edmond does play Saturday at Pen Argyl, he likely won’t play on defense.

Tom Dex got the start at quarterback in Edmond’s place. He threw for 89 yards and ran for a pair of touchdowns.

“Tom did a pretty good job,” Toman said. “The throw before the half and maybe a couple of other things he did wrong.

“But he ran the ball well and managed our offense well.”

Junior Brycen Holland started at safety for Edmond.

DePaolo missed a 21-3 win over Wilson with a sprained ankle suffered in practice last week. He didn’t do any conditioning Monday and didn’t practice Tuesday.

“We expect him to be on the practice field later in the week,” Pen Argyl coach Paul Reduzzi said.

DePaolo, who missed a month last season with an injury only to come back to lead the Green Knights to a second consecutive District 11 Class 2A title, was hurt toward the end of a defensive session last week.

“We just needed him to go straight ahead to give the backup linebackers a good read,” Reduzzi recalled. “He planted and rolled it.”

Freshman Logan Ruppert did an admirable job at running back in DePaolo’s absence. He ran for 98 yards. Zak Ruppert and Ryan Silvius were in the inside linebackers in what was a 4-4 defensive set, a change from the Green Knights’ typical five-man front.

“We ran for 228 yards last week without Mike,” Reduzzi said. “If we can do that, I’d be happy no matter who is back there [against Southern Lehigh].”

Other games this week: (Friday) Catasauqua at Saucon Valley; Salisbury at Northern Lehigh; Northwestern at Notre Dame-GP; (Saturday) Bangor at Wilson.

Morning Call Sports Reporters Stephen Miller and Tom Housenick blog about high school and college sports action on and off the field in and around the Lehigh Valley, only at themorningcall.com.

Meet the bloggers

TOM HOUSENICK watches every move Lehigh’s C.J. McCollum makes on the court, laughs at every joke by Lafayette coach Fran O’Hanlon and watches all the Divisions II and III coaches and players do it for the love of the game. Basketball makes the cold weather season go by fast. Already can’t wait for late February and early March when each possession could result in a season ending or continuing on.

Wrapping up his ninth year at The Morning Call, STEPHEN MILLER is back for year No. 4 on the LVC football beat. He chronicled Central Catholic's state-championship run in 2010, watched Nazareth win its first LVC title in 2011 and saw the league crown tri-champions for the first time in 2012. He has also covered the Phillies, college football and a variety of prep sports while with The Morning Call. To stay updated on the 2013 LVC football season, check out the Varsity blog and follow him on Twitter @mcall_smiller.